**Ukraine Must Make Concessions in Any Peace Deal, Rubio Says**
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said that Ukraine will need to make territorial concessions as part of any agreement to end the war.
Rubio made his comments while on his way to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for talks with senior Ukrainian officials. He emphasized that both Ukraine and Russia would have to compromise in order to reach a peace deal.
“The most important thing is that we have a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things,” Rubio said. “Like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form.”
Rubio’s comments come after a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. The meeting resulted in the US halting military aid to Ukraine due to disagreements over security guarantees.
**No Military Solution**
Rubio also expressed skepticism about a definitive victory for either side in the conflict. “I think both sides need to come to an understanding that there’s no military solution to this situation,” he said.
He noted that Russia cannot conquer all of Ukraine, and that it would be difficult for Ukraine to force Russia back to its 2014 borders. Rubio also stated that determining Russia’s willingness to compromise would be a crucial step in future negotiations.
**Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts**
Discussions between the US, Ukraine, and other countries are ongoing to outline the structure and responsibilities of a proposed peacekeeping force. The UK and France are leading these efforts.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian delegation will meet with US delegates on March 11 to discuss the framework for a potential peace agreement. They will also insist on the release of prisoners and be ready to sign an agreement on mineral resources.
**Russia’s Advances**
Russian forces have made a breakthrough south of the Ukrainian-held town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast, potentially threatening to cut off some of the Ukrainian positions in the region.
These developments come as Ukraine is preparing for a new phase of fighting.